To the Head of the Chief Administration of Professional Education
April 17, 1921

406
LENIN MISCELLANY

From some of your remarks today it was evident that you consider the Politburo's decision concerning the professors to be an error.

I fear there is a misunderstanding here. I fear that you are interpreting the decision inaccurately.

That Kalinnikov (I believe that's the name)—is a reactionary,—I am readily willing to admit. There are certainly malicious Cadets among them. But one must expose them differently. And expose them on concrete grounds. Give such an assignment to Kozymin (only he is not very intelligent: be more cautious with him): expose them on precise facts, on actions, on statements. Then we shall jail them for a month, for a year. They will be taught a lesson.

The same with the malicious Cadet.

The same if they have slandered a class enemy, Ignatov (? I believe that's the name? I do not know him).

Prepare the material, verify it, expose it, and condemn it before all, punish it as an example.

A military specialist is being caught for treason. But all military specialists are recruited and are working. Lunacharsky and Pokrovsky do not know how to "catch" their own specialists and, angry at themselves, vent their anger on everyone for no reason.

This is Pokrovsky's error. And there may not be so many disagreements between us and you.

The worst thing in the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment is the absence of system, of consistency; their Party cells are shockingly disorganized.

But to work out methods for "catching" specialists and punishing them, for catching and training Party cells in the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment—up to now they have not been able to do this.

With communist greetings,
Lenin

1921 — 1922

33977
TO THE DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF FOREIGN TRADE
April 1921

Georgia is of supreme importance as a cover for Russia's foreign trade. This is convenient for Italy and Germany and America.

1) Find an intelligent person to send there from the Foreign Trade Commission. Faster!

2) Have a detailed talk with Stalin about this. Today.

3) Scribble me 2 words, the gist of it.

A plan (and fund) for foreign trade through Batumi is needed.

You have no plan for foreign trade. You are throwing away resources and allowing them to be thrown away. I shall fight with you over this.

For food and fuel in 1921. Not a kopeck more. That is your line. Draw up a plan along this line, and do not yield to "pressures" and "influences."

Lenin

CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT M. A. PESHKOV

40617
NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
April 23, 1921

I ask you to arrange the matter of appointing Maxim Alexeyevich Peshkov as a courier in such a way that the term of his return to Russia can be extended by Vorovsky in Italy, without a special request to Moscow.

With communist greetings,
Lenin